When my wife and I flew back from Florida, our two cats flew with us.

My wife had Angel in a carrying case under the seat in front of her. I got Lucifer.

Our nickname for “Lucifer” is “Goose”. Usually, he is an affectionate, cuddly cat. (See my blog “Goose Cuddles”).

But that’s when I’m cuddling him. Or feeding him.

Now, he was mad. He was in a carrying case pushed beneath the seat in front of me. The ground shook. The air roared.

I tried to comfort him. I spoke his name in a soothing tone of voice. I patted him as best I could through the netting.

It did no good.

Goose hissed at me. He bared his teeth at me.

At first, I thought about me hissing at God—about us hissing at God (see my blog “Goose Hisses”). Next, I thought about God hissing at me—about God hissing at us. (see my blog “God Hisses”).

Today, on the 25th Anniversary of the terror attack on September 11, 2001, I am thinking about Americans hissing at Americans.

When does this happen? Why does this happen?

This is especially painful to think about because I am posting this blog on the 25th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. We recall wistfully how we came together as a nation after the attack. Congressmen of all parties gathered to sing patriotic songs.

Why are we so divided today?

We are divided because we seek different visions of America.

One vision of America wants to increase the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power the United States.

The other vision of America wants us to become the ideal America first discovered by the hearts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus:

—blessing ALL people (Abraham; Genesis 12:2-3);

—challenging ALL pharaohs to set ALL people free (Moses; Exodus 8:1); and

—healing ALL hurting people (Jesus; Luke 10:25-37).

Therefore, we are a house divided. We are divided by visions of America that are as diametrically, irreconcilably opposed as the pre-Civil War vision of America that permitted slavery and the pre-Civil War vision of America that insisted that ALL people must be free.

Before the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln borrowed an illustration from Jesus: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25). Abraham Lincoln’s point was that America could not continue to exist as part slave and part free. Either we would become all slave or all free.

America needs to heed this warning today. We need to choose one vision or the other: (1) the vision of Trump and MAGA seeking the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the United States; or (2) the vision of Abraham, Moses and Jesus blessing all, freeing all, and healing all (Matthew 7:24-27).

Which vision do you choose?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Which vision of America do you choose? Why? How?

In Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1:, how and why did Jesus reject the temptations to seek the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of this World (including the Power of the United States)?

Do you reject temptations in your life, our nation, and our civilizations to seek the Powers of Money, Religion, and Kingdoms of this world? Why? How?

MORE TO READ

For related thoughts, please read “How Do We Build a Civilization that Is Good—That Is Very Good?”; “Alcatraz: Escaping by Using ‘Countervailing Powers’ Wisely”; “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”; “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”, “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”; “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”, and “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”.